Marine velocipede



MARINE VELOCIPBDB.`

Patented Feb. 6, 1883.

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S N A M O 0 C Am L MARINE V'ELQGIPBDEt No; 271,799. Patented Feb.6,188-3.

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UNITED STATES NPATENT O'EEICE.

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MARINE VELOCIPEDB SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,799, dated February 6, 1883.` l

Application ined August as, i882. (No model.)

To all whom .it may concern Be it known that I, FELix'A. CooMiiNs, a citizen ot' Belgiuni,residing at Philadelphia, in the countyot' Philadelphia and State oi' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Marine and Land Velocipedes; and I do declare the followingto be apt'ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iigi lires ol reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.'

The present invention relates tothat class of velocipedes which are adapted to travel upon land and water, such vehicles being generally provided with buoyant wheels and means tor propelling and steering the saine by the rider. t

rlhe object of the invention is to overcome certain defects ot' land and water velocipedes heretofore devised, these defects being generally the excessive weight and cumbersome construction of prior devices, which render an attainment ot' a inaximuni degree of speed an impossibility, as the weight of such devices.

necessitates 4the employment 'of large wheels lor drums and steering-Heats in order to properly support the velocipedein the water. The degree ot' immersion of velocipedes heretofore devised being considerable, it follows that only a minimum amount of speedcan be attained on water, and obviously the propulsion on land is also slow. My invention is designed to provide a veloeipede which travels equally well on land. and water, and this result l attain by combining simplicity and lightness of construction witli increased facilities for applying the propnlsive power, as will hereinafter be more fully described, and then set forth in the claims. a

. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my land and water velocipede, show-` ing one of the driving-wheels partly removed from its axle, on which it is free to turn. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of a velocipede having a'square axle revolvingwith the wheels. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the position of the rider on the machine.77 Fig. 4 gives detail views of the adjustable drivei-s seat. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the loose cylindrical hub arms, b, converging toan elevated perch-bai,

c, and a rear connecting-bar, d, extending between the lateral arms a. An arm, e, rising from the center of the rear bar, d, and bolted or otherwise secured thereto, forms partot' the perch-bar c, or is an integral member thereof.

The front axle, B, carrying two driving or transporting wheels, C, is jonrnaled in Vboxes or bearingsf, secured to the side bars, ,ot' the frame, so as to` permit the axle and wheels to revolve in saidmbearings. The axle B is provided Wth two cranks, B B2, having suitable treadles or foot-pieces for appl yin g power thereto. ThewheelsU, mountedon the cranked or driving axle, are ot' a construction coinbining strength, lightness, and great buoyant properties. As shown in Fig. l, the rim or body C ofthe wheel is made with adouble-inclined periphery, the shape being that ot' two con'ic frusta with the bases placed together. This construction presents a keel-shaped periphery for facilitating the passage ot' the wheel.

through the water. A i'elly or rim, C2, having a V-shaped groove in its under side and a dat tread-surface, receives the adjoining edges of the two sections comprising the shell or hollow body U. Rivets or bolts passingtrans versely through said felly and body-sections serve to unite these parts. The lower edges.

of the sections comprising the hollow body i" are joiiiediby means ot' a. slip or lock joint, or a second rim, similar to the felly U2, may be resorted to for a like purpose. Spokes C5, secured to the inner periphery of 'the hollow rim or body, as shown in Fig. 1,0r by extend- Ving the same through said body and securing them to the fellyorotherwise, are united with arhnb or sleeve, U3, tit-ted on the driving-axle.v

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latter has square or angular exteinities, and the wheels, or thehnbs thereof', are free to slide on said axle when not locked thereto. The object of this provision is to permit the space between the wheels to be varied in order to set them close together when the volocipede is used on land, or farther apart when used on Water. r

Suitable set-screws or other devices maybe justable on said spindles for the object heref tofore stated, can be loosened \so as to rotate oil the spindles. F1g.5 represents a hub or sleeve having openings for the passage ot' bolts m, which extend through the axle-spindles and serve to lock the wheels thereto when the machine is used in water. On land the bolts are removed and the hub caused to revolve between two wedges or linchpins driven through the axle.

The object of permitting the wheel to turn loosened at a time, either the right or lett one.-

Paddles or wingsv G4, secured to the outer periphery of the hollow body or rim of the wheels (),act upon the water, in the mannerot' ordinary paddles. rlhese paddles G4 are permanently fixed to the rim, and are of such a size and shape as not to interfere with the proper running of the machine on land.

A curved arm, M, secured to the under side ot' the perch-bar, at or near the driving-axle, has a bearing or journal fortagspool, N, which is connected with an upright s'haf't, U, provided with a handle, P, for turning said shaft and spool. An endless cord or chain, Q, passing around said spool,extends in a rearward direction, and passes around a secondspool, R, on the spindle S of a forked hanger, T. Said spindle is socketed in the rear end of the perchbar, and has a number ot'- circumferential grooves or channels, S2, which aredesigned to receive a set screw or screws, S3, passing through the spindle-socket of the reach. By loosening said screw the spindle'can be raised and lowered for setting the wheel U, journaled in the hanger T, at various heights, according to the Weightot' the rider or the'degree of immersion ot' the machine in water. 'Ihewheel U, Whether used on land or water, acts as a H steering-wheel, and may be described as follows, viz: It is composed of two dished rims having their inner edges securedfto a hab and their outer edges united and made airtight by a rim or felly. Spokes u, secured to the hub, extend along the outer faces of the runs for imparting to the same the requisite degree of rigidity. Journals or gudgeons on the wheel, or the hub thereof, turn in suitable bearings4 in the forked hanger.

The riders seat V is located in rear of the steering-shaft, and is provided with a shank or arm, W, which passes through the perch and arm M, and is secured to both by setscrews or bolts., The perch has a row of holes, x, arranged in a curved line, andlthe shank W has a vertical row of holes, x2. By loosening the retaining-bolts of the seat and shift-A ing the same into the proper holes in the perch and seat-shank the seat can bc adjusted longitudinally or set farther to the front or to the rear for accommodating different-sized riders.

The steering is performed by turning the shaft 0, and obviously the position of the wheel U determines the direction in which the machine is to run.

A square shank, Z, rising from the steeringhandle, is designed to receive the socketed handle or holder of an umbrella, Z2, as is shown in the drawings. v

In order to increase the buoyancy of the wheels, I provide the same with screw-openings and caps MG, which admit of the introduction of gas into the interior of the wheels.

Having thus described my invention, what'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a marine and land velocipede, the combination ofthe frame, consisting of the lateral bars a', front converging arms, b, rearwardlyextending perch c, rear transverse bar, d, arm e, connected with the latter and the perch, and arm M, extending from the bottoni of said perch, with the cranked driving-axle, buoyant wheels titted thereon, rear steering-wheel. frontI steering-shaft, and the riders seat, substantiaily as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a marine and land velocipede, the combination ot' the cranked driving-axle, the shiftable or laterally-adjustable buoyant wheels fitted on said axle, and means, substantially as shown, for locking the wheels to the axle, with the supporting-frame, the steering-wheel and its operating devices, and the riders seat,

IOO

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a water and land velocpede,the combination ot' the buoyant vertically-adjustable steering-wheel, and means, substantially as de scribed, for turning. and adjusting the same, with the front buoyant wheels, the cranked driving-axle, and supporting-frame and perch, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The forked hanger and circumferentiallychanneled stem or spindle, in combination with the buoyant steering-wheel, perch having a socket and retaining-screw, and the front supporting and propelling wheels and steeringgear, as and for the purpose set lorth.V

In testimony whereof I altix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FLIX A. COOMANS.

Witnesses MARTIN TANNER, AUGM. TANNER.

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